Lang turns down Scottish gallery plans

Scottish arts chiefs said yesterday that they remained committed to building a new National Gallery of Scottish Art, despite Ian Lang, Secretary of State for Scotland, turning down a request for funding, writes John Arlidge.

In a statement, Mr Lang said he could not support proposals for the gallery because they 'lacked sufficient academic and public support' and risked creating a national 'artistic ghetto'.

Mr Lang's decision is another setback for the trustees, who have been embroiled in controversy ever since they announced last November that the new pounds 25m gallery, devoted to Scottish art and history, would be built in Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow.